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 Career Assessments for early professionals

Alicia Arrington's profile image
Alicia Arrington ATD Member posted 01-30-2025 04:52 PM

I am looking for insight into a career assessment for young professionals that might help them assess the best career path?  I know MBTI has a career report that comes with the assessment, but is there any other suggestions for a product that will help get professionals get closer to finding what fits?

Kelly Gonter's profile image
Kelly Gonter ATD Member

Hi Alicia! 

I would recommend using ChatGPT, if your young professionals have access.  My guess is it would be cheaper and quicker, and good enough quality to get a young professional started (especially since career goals change as a person gains experience).   For example, this is just a quick first draft, but each young professional could answer these questions (which ChatGPT produced) and then ask ChatGPT to suggest career paths based on their answers:

To identify the best career paths for you, consider asking yourself (or working through with a mentor or coach) the following ten questions:

Self-Reflection & Interests

  1. What activities or tasks make me feel the most energized and fulfilled?

    • Consider what types of work or challenges excite you, whether problem-solving, creative work, leadership, or hands-on execution.
  2. What are my natural strengths, and what do people often ask for my help with?

    • Think about skills that come easily to you and are valued by others.

Values & Motivations

  1. What kind of impact do I want to have in my career?

    • Do you want to lead teams, drive innovation, help others, influence change, or create something new?
  2. What work environment and culture bring out my best performance?

    • Consider whether you thrive in structured corporate settings, fast-paced startups, remote work, or hands-on collaborative environments.
  3. What are my non-negotiables for career satisfaction?

    • These could include work-life balance, salary expectations, flexibility, leadership opportunities, or alignment with personal values.

Skills & Growth

  1. What skills do I enjoy using the most, and which ones do I want to develop further?

    • Identify skills you excel at and enjoy versus those that feel like a chore.
  2. What challenges do I enjoy tackling, and what problems do I want to solve?

    • This can help narrow down industries or roles that align with your problem-solving interests.

Long-Term Vision & Lifestyle

  1. Where do I see myself in 5–10 years, and what kind of lifestyle do I want?

    • Consider whether you envision a leadership role, entrepreneurship, deep specialization, or frequent career shifts.
  2. What industries or career paths am I naturally curious about and eager to explore?

    • Look at emerging industries, job trends, and sectors that align with your interests and skills.
  3. How do I define success in my career?

  • Success could mean financial security, work-life balance, influence, innovation, or personal growth.

These questions will help you reflect on your strengths, values, and goals to identify career paths that align with who you are and where you want to go. Would you like help analyzing your answers to these questions?